A wedding fayre with a difference aimed at helping couples’ pockets and the environment has been planned for next month.
The DIY Wedding Fayre, to be held at The Factory in Alder Hills, Poole on March 9 from 11am until 3pm, will focus on alternatives to the expensive extravaganzas that have become the norm for some wedding couples.
The Factory is home to Dorset Scrapstore and the wedding fayre will feature two do-it-yourself workshops, one on making wedding stationery and one on wedding favours and centrepieces.
The idea is that couples can leave the wedding fayre with everything they need to get creative from the Scrapstore.
Leane Grote from the Factory, who is co-organising the event, said: “We want to do something that helps couples who can’t afford to pay the thousands of pounds that some weddings cost.
“With upcycling and a bit of DIY you can still have a beautiful wedding but for a realistic, affordable price.”
Suppliers already signed up for the event include a local, ethical business selling locally sourced luxury coffee, beverages and cakes from a renovated horse box.
Leane said: “With the rise in popularity of festival and glamping weddings, some people are looking to have outdoor hot drinks instead of a bar.
“There are all kinds of ways to hold a wedding and we’d love to have a bit of everything on offer – from catering to table decorations.
“We will also host a pre-loved wedding sale on the day, with items that couples have made or bought for their wedding and no longer need.”
The wedding fayre will also be helping a good cause. All The Factory’s enterprises help fund BCHA, which has been helping homeless and vulnerable people for 50 years.
The Factory is part of the New Leaf Company, the social enterprise arm of charitable housing association BCHA, with all profits invested back into the community. The Factory has meeting and conference rooms available for hire.
Entrance to the wedding fayre is £3 to include a goody bag, and there will also be a raffle and a talk from a DIY wedding planner.
Prices for stalls start at £12 and Leane would like to hear from anyone interested in being an exhibitor, or pitching a stall at their pre-loved sale. Contact her at The Factory on 01202 612479.